overwhelmed

 Today is the 2nd day of the 19th week, the 5th day of the 5th month, the 125th day of 2025, and:

• African World Heritage Day
• Chanel No. 5 Day
• Childhood Stroke Awareness Day
• Cinco de Mayo
• Early May Bank Holiday Day - celebrated in the UK on the first Monday of May
• Europe Day - celebrated on this day by the Council of Europe and on May 9th by the European Union and celebrates the rich history, diversity, and unity of European countries 
• Great Lakes Appreciation Day
• Hug a Shed and Take a Selfie Day
• International Midwives Day
• International Roller Derby Day
• Kodomo no Hi - Children's Day in Japan
• Melanoma Monday
• Museum Lover's Day
• Nail Day
• National Astronaut Day
• National Cartoonists Day
• National Concert Day
• National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women [AKA Red Dress Day]
• National Enchilada Day
• National Hoagie Day
• national Meeting Planners Appreciation Day
• National Silence the Shame Day
• Oyster Day
• Revenge of the Fifth
• Square Root Day - observed when both the day of the month and the month are the square root of the last two digits of the year
• Totally Chipotle Day
• World Asthma Day
• World Portuguese Language Day
• and Voyager 1 is ~23h 02m 19s of light travel time from Earth

Quote of the day:

“May I relate to myself, to others, and to the events around me with kindness, understanding, and less judgment. May I use my day in a way that is in tune with my deeper values.” 

~ In this way, set the tone for the day.  Thupten Jinpa, “Two Exercises for Turning Intention into Motivation”

I haven't actually written here since January 28th.   Now it is a fact that a quiet life, while having much to recommend it, generates very little to actually talk about as one goes about their daily routine.  So if you would like to imagine me in these intervening weeks as quietly puttering about in my new digs, enjoying my books, savouring meals, and indulging in gab fests with friends and family, and thus only wishing to post lovely pictures in honor of #SilentSunday, have at it.  I've always enjoyed fantasy!

That, beguiling as it sounds, is not a good description of life as I have been experiencing it.  My family, as well as my friends,  and my country are all undergoing a great deal of upheaval, and I feel helpless.  As it turns out, as engrossing as they are to me, the stories of the former are not mine to tell across the internet, and the stories of the latter have been regularly punctuated by a plethora of social media posts that I have made, shared and liked.  

For myself, there is little to say other than my worry bucket overfloweth.  

An unexpected emergency trip to Nashville went as well as could be expected.   It was rather surreal to be wandering about my apartment at 7:30 AM and just eight hours later to be sitting in the living room in a different state and time zone  

Despite an unexpectedly heated altercation with bossman, I managed not to get fired, altho a severe narrative of my disrespect was placed in my HR file and I lost my direct report.  

My birthday came and I am in my diamond jubilee trip around the sun.  I took a couple of days off and visited the MVA so that my driver's license name could accurately reflect my legal name as shown in Social Security and IRS records - apparently not having my middle initial "A" in my login.gov authentication [because it wasn't on said driver's license] gave those august agencies a great deal of perturbation that someone was trying to imitate me [despite the birthdate, phone number, address, photo ID, and password all matching], but I haven't tried since then to get into their websites.  

On medical matters:  I switched from my GP of many years - not only did they move out of the building where I work, but they went boutique, and I decline to spend $2K every year for the privilege of paying to go to a doctor.  The new doc is closer to where I live - now if I can only remember her name....  A recent colonoscopy turned out well, and my doctor is convinced I no longer need to adhere to the former every three year time table.   Given the family history I was surprised, but since there wasn't anything precancerous found, I'm not to go back until I am 85 and at that age, we'll discuss whether or not it is needed then.

Haven't had a lot of time for gaming or a Second Life these days as six days of the seven are taken up with "stuff".  Of course, work is the main part of that, and it is a very necessary component that pays the bills!  Sundays are only half taken up with church, but the weekends do seem to flit by with head-spinning rapidity these days.  

The last time I was out for the day, and I got home much later than I thought.  Triscuit immediately took over my shoes after I kicked them off, guarding them, determined that I was not going to leave her by herself again.  

And life goes on.